Deputy Fire Chief Steve Hall has retired after 38 years of service to the town of Great Barrington. For the past 20 years, he was deputy chief of the Housatonic Fire Station.
Deputy Hall's beginnings in the fire service were a bit non-traditional.
"I joined the fire brigade at Mead Paper when I was employed there," he said. "That is what inspired me to join Housatonic in 1983."
Over the years, Hall has served under five chiefs, going back to Fire Chief Mort Cavanaugh.
"Steve was my deputy when I started in Housatonic on the Great Barrington Fire Department," Fire Chief Charles Burger said. "One of his strengths was always welcoming the new guy, and being eager to share his training and experience, which he certainly did with me."
The department evolved from a typical town fire department to a large organization that tackles diverse hazards.